The Zambian government has disbursed 198 billion kwacha (51 million U.S. dollars) to provide 160,000 small-scale farmers with 64,000 tons of fertilizer for the 2006/2007 farming season, Times of Zambia reported on Friday.

Under a fertilizer support program (FSP), the authorities allocated the money to procure a total of 60,000 tons of fertilizer and about 3,500 tons of maize seeds.

Agriculture Permanent Secretary Sam Mundia said in Kafue, 50 km from Lusaka, on Thursday that Japan also donated 4,000 tons of fertilizer, which brought the total amount to 64,000 tons for this season.

The FSP has been in operation for five years and supports 120, 000 to 160,000 small-scale farmers every year. Mundia said the program is targeting at about 160,000 farmers this year.

The official, however, warned that any officer, farmer or stakeholder found wanting will be liable to punishment.

Source: Xinhua